132 Best Places to Shop in Singapore

One of Orchard Road's best-loved megamalls contains eight levels of shopping and dining distractions. Key fashion tenants include UNIQLO, Zara, and Love, Bonito, though there are plenty of tech, jewelery, and homeware stores, too. Along the mall's open-air Discovery Walk is a clutch of buzzing bars and restaurants, including JiBiru Yakitori & Craft Beer, which deals in local and imported microbrews. Refuel with a caffeine hit at uber-cool spots % Arabica or Flash Coffee, or join the long lines for bubble tea at Gong Cha.

Haji Lane is known for turning up some of the island's more unusual fashion finds so it’s no surprise that founder Astou Montfort decided to set up shop there. In particular, AS’FALL’s seasonal collection of made-in-Singapore clothing sports intricate embroidery specially crafted by Senegalese artisans for the brand. With limited runs and monthly rotating cultural patterns and motifs, each season sees different ethnic fabrics (batik, wax African fabric) being used, turning out truly unique luxe-yet-ethical clothing. 

A team of craftsmen and designers makes the unique handmade products, including jewelry, accessories, leather goods, and woodwork that are sold in this boutique. You’re bound to find something unique here.

Wooden planks painted like piano keys mark the entrance to BooksActually, a vintage bookstore on hip Yong Siak Street. Here you can browse an excellent selection of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to the sound of light indie-pop tunes. The back room has interesting bric-a-brac, and there's selection of book-vending machines out front, where you can purchase a "mystery" book wrapped in white paper for S$10.

Founded by Trixie Kong initially to offer a range of skin-sensitive, non-toxic jewelry, the brand has grown into one of Singapore’s best-loved jewelry brands. Focusing on producing elegant pieces ethically and sustainably, the range of gold and silver rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are delicate and beautifully crafted. Try the pieces on at their flagship store in VivoCity.

From cute plant pots to mindfulness books, Cat Socrates is the shop to go to for all your gift-giving needs. It’s particularly good if you are looking for souvenirs: you’ll find Singapore-themed puzzles, books, cards, tea towels, and more, as well as postcards and stationery. Friendly reminder: don’t pet the cat!

This is one of the most popular spots in the city to souvenir shop. The stalls sprawl across Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Lane, Smith Street, and Temple Street, so you just need to pick a starting point and get walking. You can buy everything from lacquerware and handmade fans to paintings and T-shirts. Prices are usually fixed.

This boutique two-story mall is housed in a historic shophouse, just next to the Botanic Gardens’ Bukit Timah gate. It’s a great place to shop for gifts and keepsakes, with local artisans and lifestyle brands on the second floor. There’s also a supermarket, eco-grocer, and collection of eateries on the first floor—or head around the corner (away from the park) to Micro Bakery to stock up on cakes and pastries.

Following a renovation that was completed in 2019, this electronics and tech-lifestyle center now has funky retail, dining, and entertainment offerings like a food court where you can pay with cryptocurrency, a theater, a rock-climbing wall, and more. One of the most interesting things is the 5,000 square-foot rooftop urban farm that's part of the city's commitment against food insecurity, and whose produce is directly sourced by Noka, a modern-Japanese restaurant on Funan's 7th floor. 

Need a break from Singapore's fun but sometimes suffocating mall culture? Head to the open air and this strip of restored shophouses, which stretches from Beach Road to North Bridge Road in Kampong Glam. Among the numerous indie fashion and lifestyle shops like Flame Vintage Store (genuine branded vintage finds), Crafune (DIY leather goods), Hygge (imported bags, handcrafted accessories), and The Nail Social (which uses nontoxic, eco-friendly, fair-trade, and cruelty-free nail products). The best way to tackle Haji Lane is to simply give yourself a few hours to wander and window-shop at random.

This is Singapore’s largest outlet mall, with more than 90 stores and big discounts year-round. Major international fashion, travel, and electronics brands can be found here, so it’s an excellent place to pick up a bargain, but not really the place for souvenir or trinket shopping. IMM can get pretty crowded, particularly on weekends.

An excellent place to stock up on gifts with a distinctly Singaporean flavor, Independent Market sells everything from Peranakan-themed coasters and magnets to books on perfecting your Singlish. As the name suggests, the shop is a collection of independent Singaporean designers and publishers, so you can be sure your money spent here is supporting local artists.

With a bold, sci-fi-inspired facade and a 56th-floor viewing deck replete with high-powered telescopes, this is not your everyday megamall, even by Singapore's lofty standards. In addition to local boutiques and more than 300 luxury shops, you'll find a cavernous food hall and a gourmet supermarket. But that's still not all: the fourth floor has the 3,640-square-foot ION Art Gallery, which regularly exhibits works by local and international artists.

Locals flock to Jamal Kazura Aromatics for high-quality perfumes and essential oils. Allow about 30 minutes for a consultation with one of the shop's staff members, who'll ask you a few questions about your lifestyle and favorite smells before concocting your personalized take-home fragrance. Call ahead to make an appointment. There are two other nearby outlets: one at 21 Bussorah Street and another at 39 Bussorah Street.

Located in the Holland Road Shopping Centre, which is an expat landmark, Lim's Arts and Living carries an eclectic range of handcrafted furniture, silks, paper products, Asian-style housewares, and sundry knickknacks. Even if you don't buy anything, it's a fun shop to browse. This is just one of several of Lim's outlets across the city, having first opened in 1970.

Browse sustainably made, super chic bags at local designer Ling Wu’s boutique store. Ling’s bags are known for sleek, modern designs that accentuate the elegance of the high-quality leather. And with her "Make Good" commitment, weaved designs use upcycled materials and fair trade principles to support communities in nearby Kalimantan and Sarawak. It’s best to call or text ahead to book an appointment at the store.

The team here are experts in Burmese teak furniture, offering a treasure trove of pieces nestled in the leafy greenery of Dempsey Hill. While the larger signature pieces, which are handcrafted by in-house "wood doctor" Kelvin, may be too large to fit in a suitcase, there’s a huge selection of art, sculptures, and decorative pieces to marvel at throughout the shop.

This used to be a humble store frequented only by local shoppers—until word spread about its low prices and mind-boggling variety of goods. A visit to this sprawling, 24/7 complex just might be your most memorable Singapore shopping experience, provided you don't mind patiently navigating the sometimes overwhelming crowds. Surrounded by scores of Indian restaurants, some of which are similarly open all day and night, Mustafa Centre carries just about any manufactured product you can imagine—and they're often sold at cut-rate prices. It's great fun to wander and see what kind of treasures you can turn up. Be sure to check out the massive supermarket, and, if you have spare money to change, do it here as the foreign-exchange rates (available online) are competitive.

The Japanese department store Takashimaya dominates this gigantic shopping mall, but there are also more than 130 other shops and dining outlets packed into the first few floors of the Ngee Ann towers. The basement food center is fun for snacking on everything from Hokkaido-style ice cream to bubble tea, and there's also, of course, a large food court if you're craving something more substantial. Books Kinokuniya—a must-visit—is one of the biggest bookstores in Southeast Asia, and special sales on clothing, housewares, and other goods are regularly held in the basement-level square.

This Chinatown gallery houses a collection of over 30,000 Peranakan tiles—colorful ceramics based on designs created by descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Singapore as early as the 15th century. A blend of Malaysian, Indonesian, and Singaporean influences, the intricate tiles can be seen adorning shophouses and residential properties across the island. Peranakan tiles make a distinctive (if fragile) souvenir of your time in Singapore, so Victor Lim’s gallery is well worth a visit if you still have room in the suitcase.

Perhaps the best way to bring home a piece of Singapore is to buy from this local brand helmed by husband and wife Edwin and Mei Ling. They design and produce meaningful omiyage (contemporary gift ware) using Singapore’s rich culture as inspiration. Plates, cups, and bowls are emblazoned with uniquely local icons like the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer, and Jewel Changi’s Vortex (that jaw-dropping airport waterfall you've been hearing about). Their Supermama Porcelain line is made in collaboration with Kihara, a well-known Japanese porcelain label and their stockist now includes glassware, tea towels, and commemorative bone china.